The declaration of roads leading to aid distribution centers in Gaza as “considered combat zones” by the Israeli army has further endangered civilians, according to the UN. This alarming development coincides with the UN aid chief’s condemnation of “horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while seeking food, highlighting the extreme perils of humanitarian operations.
The increased danger prompted the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed group, to announce the temporary closure of its facilities. This decision follows a string of deadly incidents, including a tragic event on Tuesday where 27 people were killed in southern Gaza near a GHF aid site. While the Israeli military is investigating, concerns about civilian safety are paramount.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher powerfully articulated the world’s dismay, describing “horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat.” He asserted that these tragic outcomes are the result of “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived two million people of the essentials they need to survive.”
Fletcher joined UN chief Antonio Guterres in calling for immediate, independent investigations into these “not isolated incidents,” emphasizing that perpetrators must be held accountable. He reiterated the UN’s capability and readiness to deliver aid, demanding the opening of all crossings, a lifting of aid restrictions, and the implementation of a ceasefire to alleviate the immense suffering in Gaza.